Memorial Hermann Katy home for future sports medicine center

A sports medicine complex set to open next year in Katy will offer a "one stop shopping" approach for the health of athletes.

On March 29, officials with Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and Athletic Training and Health broke ground at the $15 million Memorial Hermann Sports Park - Katy.

"This unique collaboration between Memorial Hermann and (Athletic Training and Health) will benefit the full range of athletes in our community, from high school students to professional competitors, weekend warriors and beyond," said Heath Rushing, Memorial Hermann Katy's chief executive officer.

"Memorial Hermann Sports Park - Katy provides care for athletes from the moment of injury to the moment they return to play and beyond," Rushing said.

The 50,000 square foot sports park will be located on the grounds of Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital in a fast-growing area along the Katy Freeway near the Grand Parkway.

"We're actually the first hospital to host a facility of this kind," said Vivian Bond, the hospital's vice president for operations. "We're incredibly excited to bring something new to the Katy community."

Danny Cooper, chief operating officer for the Plano-based Athlete Training and Health, said the new complex is a perfect for their company's mission to provide high-level training and health services to athletes - both youth and professional - along with adults who want to live a more active lifestyle.

"This incredible facility - with the performance training, adult fitness, sports medicine and research - along with the turf practice field will serve the entire community," Cooper said.

The two-story sports park will be supported by Memorial Hermann Katy physicians who specialize in primary care as well as orthopedics along with physical therapists, coaches and trainers. It will include weight training rooms and an indoor turf field for performance training.

"It allows us to expand our already robust orthopedic offerings to the Katy community by providing athletic training and wellness as well as educational services all in one location," Bond said.

A full sized outdoor turf field is also included in the design. The plans are for it to host a variety of community sports leagues, officials said.

Bond said hospital officials are looking forward to working with the community to provide a full range of sports related health activities.

"We'll be able to bridge the gap between an injury and getting child and adults back to living an active and healthy lifestyle," she said.

Cooper said ATH is excited to begin a collaboration with the hospital in an area known for nationally ranked sports programs.

"It's not just operating 'side by side.' It's operating as one team," Cooper said. "We know athletes, active adults and their doctors and coaches are going to be excited about how this training center helps them achieve their goals of getting stronger, healthier and more fit."